Active Spines Chiropractic has earned the service industry-coveted 2012 Angie’s List Super Service Award, an honor awarded annually to approximately 5 percent of all the companies rated on Angie’s List, the nation’s leading provider of consumer reviews on local service companies.

“It’s a select group of companies rated on Angie’s List that can claim the exemplary customer service record of being a Super Service Award winner,” said Angie’s List Founder Angie Hicks. “Our standards for the Super Service Award are quite high. The fact that Active Spines Chiropractic earned this recognition speaks volumes about its dedication providing great service to its customers.”

Angie’s List Super Service Award 2012 winners have met strict eligibility requirements, including earning a minimum number of reports, an excellent rating from their customers and abiding by Angie’s List operational guidelines.

Service company ratings are updated daily on Angie’s List. Companies are graded on an A through F scale in areas ranging from price to professionalism to punctuality. Members can find the 2012 Super Service Award logo next to company names in search results on AngiesList.com.

Angie’s List helps consumers have happy transactions with local service professionals in more than 550 categories of service, ranging from home improvement to health care. More than 1.5 million paid households use Angie’s List to gain unlimited access to local ratings, exclusive discounts, the Angie’s List magazine, and the Angie’s List complaint resolution service.

Wednesday, November 14, 2012

Why Am I Here? What Make You Decide to Be a Chiropractor?

Since I grew up in Taiwan, Chiropractic is not popular back home. I did not decide to be a chiropractor when I was young or I had seen a chiropractor prior due to sports injuries, car accident injuries, neck pain or back pain. As a matter of fact I have never heard of the word "chiropractic" until when I was a junior or senior in college through my dad. My dad goes to Japan from time to time for work or visiting friends. One time he was seen by a chiropractor there due to his chronic low back pain. Later he told me about his experience and wanted me to find out more about it.

I had no clue what chiropractic is and was very skeptical about how it can help back pain by adjusting the spine. At that time I was studying Athletic Training and helping athletes with various sports injuries through rehabilitation exercises and therapeutic modalities. With all the classes I had taken, none of them mentioned chiropractic care as a treatment option. But I decided to find out more by contacting schools in the USA and visited local chiropractors in Taiwan. I received admission and curriculum information from chiropractic schools. After reviewing all the information that really got me excited because the classes looked quite challenging and interesting comparing to going to graduate school doing research. I had been studying for GRE in Taiwan, took a couple tests and had good scores for admission to graduate school at that time. But I prefer hands on, clinical approach, and more patient interaction. After long discussions with my parents and teachers I decided to go to chiropractic school at National University of Health Sciences in Lombard IL, instead of graduate school in sports medicine and the rest is history!

Thursday, October 25, 2012

Bellevue WA Massage TherapistDiane Peterson

Diane graduated from the Natural health
institute in Santa Cruz, California in 1987 instructed by Samuel Schoonover, who
trained from Jack Painter, the founder of Postural Integration .
After graduating Diane assisted Samuel in teaching his classes in 1988 while
starting her own practice.

In 1990 she moved to Santa Fe and continued her
private practice which grew to include psychotherapists, chiropractors, dance
teachers, Pilates instructors, Rolfers, and elite level
athletes. Diane moved to Seattle five years ago and
graduated from Northwest Academy of the Healing Arts in 2009 and received her
Washington State Massage Practitioners license. She currently works with Dr.
Shao Hao Cheng at Active Spines Chiropractic.

Do you have neck pain or back pain? She can
definitely help you! Please call us and we can verify your insurance
benefit for you. Most likely with one hour of massage you will only
responsible for your co-pay which is a great saving! Please call
425-818-0086 to schedule your next massage appointment with her! For more information please go to our website :)

Friday, September 28, 2012

Seeing is believing?

The other day I fell to the ground and scraped my left elbow and left knee while rollerblading around where I live. I also landed on my right hip and right hand. I immediately saw some blood over my left knee and elbow. It was not a good experience. I then went home and cleaned up the injury site. Later on the day my wrists, hips, and arms started to hurt. Even though there were not open wounds and bruises around those area, I knew something was not right. There are certainly sprain/strain, and soft tissue injuries over my body due to the fall. I started icing my shoulder, neck, upper back, arm, and hip at 15 minutes increment for 2 to 3 hours. I felt better the next day. But my body still not feeling good, especially when I am working on patients, my wrist and ankle still bothers me.

What is going on? I am not seeing the injury but still hurting! There is some soft tissue injury still over my body for sure. I then got a chiropractic adjustment from my colleague. Later on I slowly feeling better. But I am not completely heal yet, even though I am back to the gym working out. I still need to follow up for some chiropractic treatments. It is quite common for people to think that when you do not see the injury and you are fine. But as far as soft tissue injuries, or musculoskeletal injuries are concerned, it is not true. Not seeing the injury does not mean you are okay. It is better to live your life at it fullest than just getting by without pain. It is better to stay active than relying on medication to keep you pain free. It is imperative to see a chiropractor for musculoskeletal injuries whenever after car accident, sports injury, work injury, or any other kind of injury to make sure you are 100% okay, not just no pain. Don't wait until it is too late.

Monday, July 30, 2012

Auto Injury Related Spine Syndromes 2012

At the end of May, 2012, I finally finished the 4 module seminar presented by Dr. Dan Dock. Here is the certificate of completion from CDI. It looks pretty good, isn't it. I have been taking Dr. Dan Dock's seminar since 2007. Overall it has been a great experience. The seminar keeps me up to date with studies, researches and different treatments in auto accident injury care.

Your first visit in general:

A detailed history of your car accident bodily injuries will be taken. We have to ensure the mechanism of the injuries correlate your clinical presentation and findings. Most likely diagnostic imaging such as x-ray for your neck and back will be done in the office. Mild gentle care will also be provided on the first visit such as ice therapy and gentle chiropractic care to relief pain. Seeking medical care is also recommended for pain control. Usually your medical doctor will prescribe pain killer, anti-inflammatory and/or muscle relaxant.

Tuesday, July 10, 2012

Soft-Tissue Treatment Is Another Form of Exercise | Bellevue Chiropractor

According to Dr. Warren Hammer, MS, DC, DABCO, "Mechanical loading by a practitioner is a form of physical activity performed on a patient.

Mechanical loading is the principal way our body maintains itself,
especially with regards to tendons, ligaments, bone, muscle and fascia.
Lack of mechanical loading results in atrophy and eventual cell death.
Years ago, anyone with acute lower back pain was sent to bed for a week.
We now know that as soon as a patient can move with minimal discomfort,
they should get out of bed and attempt the movement – i.e., mechanical
loading. Thus, just rubbing someone’s skin or deeper tissues is
mechanical loading that may be considered a localized form of exercise." You can read his article over here.

Most patients feel immediate relief after each treatment. These are effective and safe procedures to help your body heal in the right direction. Furthermore in-office one on one rehab exercises for your neck and back will be also very beneficial and empower you to better health. Last but not least, chiropractic adjustments from Bellevue chiropractor Dr. Cheng will keep your spine more balanced and aligned!

Monday, July 2, 2012

Bellevue WA Massage TherapistJanene Hampton

Please welcome Janene, our new massage therapist on board at Active Spines Chiropractic in Bellevue WA. She has
been a massage therapist since 2011. She is passionate about helping people with a variety of
techniques unique to their situation such as Deep Tissue, Sports
injury, Swedish, Reflexology and Pregnancy. She also specialize in injury
treatments, Swedish massage and deep tissue massage. She can keep you
fit, active and healthy beyond traditional massage treatments. Her goals
for patients are not only relieving the symptoms but also improving their
quality of life. She is also a
provider with many health insurances which includes Premera, Aetna,
FirstChoice, United Health Care, Work Injury Claim, Auto Insurance and more!

Janene is inspired by her daughters Aushanae, Monae, and Kiona. She loves to
paint, likenesses of the people who have influenced her through
music, poetry and those she look to for advice. She also loves to read and
continues her knowledge through any kind of books from
business, texts, literature, and her daughters' poetry.

Do you have neck pain or back pain? She can
definitely help you! Please call us and we can verify your insurance
benefit for you. Most likely with one hour of massage you will only
responsible for your co-pay which is a great saving! Please call
425-818-0086 to schedule your next massage appointment with her! For more information please go to our website :)

Shao-Hao Cheng D.C.

I am a motivated, and inspired chiropractic doctor. I will
make every effort to provide my patients with the most up to date and
comprehensive care. I will strive to
become an integral member of my community, both personally and professionally.
I practice in Bellevue WA and am ready to help patients in this area.

Proficient in main stream Chiropractic techniques such as
National manual diversified technique, Thompson technique, and Activator. Also
trained in athletic training, manual therapy, exercise rehabilitation, and
posture correction.

Monday, May 7, 2012

This video was recorded back in February. I came across it again over the weekend and decided to post and share with everyone. The full size spine model make it easier to see the relationship between the spine, nerve, bones and disc. Poor posture increase loading over your spine, nerve, joint, disc and more. Overtime it changes the biomechanics of your body. You then will have aches and pain in certain area of your body. it includes but not limited to headache, neck pain, upper back pain, mid back pain, low back pain, shoulder pain, arm and leg pain. The damage, repetitive stress injury, can be long lasting and irreversible if left uncorrected. Chiropractic, rehab exercises and massage therapy are safe and effective treatment options to keep you fit, active and healthy! Active Spines Chiropractic are here to help you get more out of life.

Monday, April 16, 2012

Low back pain after yard work. Is there help for that?

I was doing yard work for 4 hours yesterday since the sun was out. I shoveled 2 yards of mulch. That was way more than I expected. And my back was not too happy this morning. What should I do?

Besides paying attention to my posture while pushing wheel barrel, shoveling dirt, bending and lifting, I also took several mini breaks in between. I stretched out my back, legs and thighs. I drank extra water. I also paid extra attention to my posture when sitting and driving. I put a pillow on my low back while sitting down and did not sit on a soft chair. I sat all the way back and rest my back again the backseat while driving last night. All these were intended to maintain the low back lordosis, curvature. With bending and twisting my back while shoveling, I need to restore the natural curvature in my low back with self care methods mentioned above.

After doing all those stretching exercise and maintaining a proper posture, I still feel extra tense over my low back. Therefore, I went to see my chiropractic colleague and got a chiropractic adjustment. My back felt much better after the treatment. The stress is less, my back does not feel locked up, and the muscles feel less tense. I am going to take things easy the next few days. I will be doing some gentle low back stretching exercises and get chiropractic adjustments again to make sure my spine is in balance. Chiropractic care is safe and effective for back pain on top of doing stretching exercises and watching your posture.

Thursday, April 12, 2012

Too much sitting linked to shortened lives: study(2)

People who spent a lot of time sitting
at a desk or in front of a television were more likely to die
than those who were only sedentary a few hours a day, according
to an Australian study that looked at death rates during a
three-year period. (1) Researchers, whose results appeared in the Archives of
Internal Medicine, found that the link between too much time
sitting and shortened lives stuck even when they accounted for
how much moderate or vigorous exercise people got, as well as
their weight and other measures of health. The study concludes that prolonged sitting is a risk factor for all-causemortality, independent of physical activity. Public health programs should focus on reducing sittingtime in addition to increasing physical activity levels. There is also another study found out that time spent in sedentary behaviors was positively associated with mortality,
and participation in high levels of moderate vigorous physical
activities did not fully mitigate health risks associated with prolonged
time watching television.(3)

In short sitting too long will shorten your lifespan even if you do exercises regularly. In order to live longer and healthier it is very important for us to take mini breaks at work or when watching TV. A simple solution is to get up and move around for a few minutes every hour. You can use a timer to remind yourself. Stretching your neck, upper back and low back will keep you body flexible and prevent you from foot pain, forward head posture, neck pain, back pain, or work injuries. As a chiropractor I always recommend my patients to do regular stretching and posture exercises at work and home. It takes about 10 minutes but you will feel much better over you back and neck right away. Don't wait until it is too late. Besides stretching, or walking around, it is also imperative to have your spine checked by a chiropractor. In this fast pace society and with sedentary life style, we are putting lots of stress on our body without knowing it. Seeing a chiropractor can keep your spine active and healthy and in balance. If your spine goes out of balance, it will put pressure on your body. You will have aches and pain. Chiropractic adjustment is a natural and safe way to keep you in balance! We help you stay active and you will live longer!

Thursday, March 22, 2012

OMNI says it will broadcast Friday’s Knicks-Raptors game in Mandarin for the very first time on March 23rd 2012. This is an exciting news. I heard this last night while watching the Knicks and 76er's game. It was also mentioned this morning on NPR. How cool is that! The is the very first live Mandarin broadcast in NBA history! “The level of enthusiasm for Jeremy Lin from the Chinese and Taiwanese
communities has been extraordinary over the past month, and it’s clear
that his Cinderella story and stellar performances are inspiring youth
in these communities across Canada,” said Madeline Zinak, the station’s
National Vice-President.

Interesting enough, later this morning I got a phone call and a potential patient ask me if I can speak Chinese. Yes, I can speak Mandarin since I was born and raised in Taiwan. She called because her sister has debilitating low back pain and need some help. She had found Active Spines Chiropractic in Bellevue WA on Google. They will be in later today for chiropractic examination and see if chiropractic care can help her back pain. Last I cannot wait to watch the game on Friday! This is very exciting again!

Tuesday, March 13, 2012

Bellevue Massage TherapistAlice Loh

Please welcome Alice, our new massage therapist on board at Active Spines Chiropractic in Bellevue WA. Alice has
been a massage therapist since 2010. She specialize in injury
treatments, Swedish massage and deep tissue massage. She can keep you
fit, active and healthy beyond traditional massage treatments. Her goal
for her patients not only relieves the symptoms but also improves their
life styles in order for them to live a healthier life. She is also a
provider with many health insurances which includes Premera, Aetna,
FirstChoice, United Health Care, Work Injury Claim, Auto Insurance and more! Do you have neck pain or back pain? She can
definitely help you! Please call us and we can verify your insurance
benefit for you. Most likely with one hour of massage you will only
responsible for your co-pay which is a great deal! Please call
425-818-0086 to schedule your next massage appointment with her! By the
way she also speaks Mandarin Chinese and Japanese!

Thursday, March 8, 2012

I went to a seminar about Auto Collision
Related Spine Injuries 2012 II by Dr. Dan Dock, DC on Thursday, March 8th,
2012. Here I will share some of the information that I learned from the
seminar. Cranial nerve I to XII function and auto collision injuries were the topic. There were lots of information about cranial nerve evaluation and it's clinical relations. It really reminds me the good old days in the neuroanatomy and neurology class in school. The seminar was very in depth and felt like attending a neuro diplomat class.

Dr. Dock also talked about Sidney Crosby's concussion like symptoms. Concussion like symptoms such as his dizziness and blur vision is a result of neck muscle strain/tightness.1, 2 Post trauma vertigo may be due to vasomotor instability.2 But, may be due to vestibulospinal system or chronic neck spinal muscle tightness. Cervical vertigo can be a result of dizziness from proprioception, vertebral artery irritation or sympathetic irritation. Chiropractic adjustment can help condition like this. Dr. Dock says that we are already helping people with similar condition in our daily practice even though you are not treating Sidney Crosby. You might have heard patients say that they can see better after cervical adjustment. The neurological pathway after cervical adjustment is that it stimulate the proprioceptor in the spinal cord. The information goes to the cerebellum via medial longitudinal fasciculus tract. It then goes to to CN III, IV, and VI that helps with vision.

There are other diseases causing blur vision and dizziness such as ALS, MS, stroke and aneurysm. These are contra-indication for chiropractic treatment. In the seminar he went over signs and symptoms of many disease related to cranial nerves. It was quite a morning re-learning neurology. I had fun!

Monday, March 5, 2012

This is a picture video of 2012 NW Women Show with Active Spines Chiropractic in Bellevue WA. We did some free chair massage and free chiropractic spinal screening. There were people with neck pain, back pain, and forward head posture. We were glad to be of help! You will see pictures of the attendants, staff, Doctor at this marketing events. Please enjoy!

Tuesday, February 28, 2012

This is a picture video of Active Spines Chiropractic in Bellevue WA. You will see pictures of the clinic, staff, Doctor and marketing events that we do. Dr. Cheng, a Bellevue Chiropractor, see patients with neck and back pain from poor posture, car accident, sports injuries and more. He also does health talk at the local community to educate the public about proper spine health! Please enjoy!

Wednesday, February 22, 2012

This is our first video on Youtube! More to come soon :) This video was recorded in our consultation and x-ray room in Bellevue WA. Dr. Cheng, a chiropractor, introduced himself and explained what types of patients that we see. We have patients with neck pain and/or back pain as a result of poor posture, work, sports injury and car accidents. Chiropractic care is a safe and natural way to help your body heal in the right direction!

Wednesday, February 15, 2012

Hi everyone~ I went to a seminar about Auto Collision Related Spine Injuries 2012 by Dr. Dan Dock, DC on Thursday, Feb 9, 2012. Here I will share some of the information that I learned from the seminar. As far as record keeping is concerned. Dr. Dock recommends hand writing notes. It has to be readable by other people as well. He also focused on incorporating an exercise program for patients to do in the office for their neck and/or back injuries.

There are ways to show the treatment is reasonable and necessary. Such as how patients activity of daily living have improved since getting care. Please be specific such as on the right or left, and which body part. And if their pain level have changed. You can use none, minimal, mild, moderate or severe to rate pain level besides using 0 to 10 scale. Mechanism of injury is the key to find out injury and to see clinical correlation. Where was the car hit? Where was the head turn? Was the foot on the break? Were arm on the steering wheel? If hit from behind, patient's body go backwards then forwards. If patient could not recall his position mostly he has light concussion, or short term amnesia. If the amnesia last for more than 2 to 4 hours, patient needs a CT scan. There might be intercranial bleeding.

If patient has gradual onset of pain following the accident. Most likely because the endorphin is slowly wearing out after the accident. If patient did not come for treatment, ask why. Is it because work, job, family or no health insurance? Look for muscle spasm and rate the level. Check for Active range of motion and passive range of motion once a month. Decreased cervical extension could be pedicle or facet fracture. Asymmetrical loss of motion could mean injury to the facet and disc. Look for sharp angulation, sharp reverse curve in cervical flexion and extension x-ray. This could mean damage to the capsule ligament, facet joint, interspinous ligament, and supraspinous ligament. If there is breakage in George's line there might be torn disc or fracture.

MRI for patient if there is distinct nerve root pattern, intense pain, something new and different, or patient is getting worse with treatment. Consider pre and post x-ray if the condition is unstable.

Friday, January 6, 2012

Happy New Year everyone. I hope you all had a great time during the holiday season with friends and family. Hopefully you know your New Year resolution or you are working on it. I am still working on New Year resolution. Recently I read a journal article about treatment for acute or subacute neck pain. I am glad to know that chiropractic adjustment and exercises provide better result than taking pain medication.

At Active Spines Chiropractic, we provide a treatment protocol that is similar to that in the article. After detail examination and x-ray if needed, you will receive not only chiropractic adjustment but also some other manual therapy and exercise to get you better as soon as possible. We have a massage table that will relax your back before your adjustment. We will teach you how to do exercises correctly. These exercises are specifically designed for your spine to keep you active and healthy. Each treatment will last about 30 minutes which is very detail and comprehensive. Again this is to ensure that you are making a speedy recovery from your injury. Last wish you all have a great New Year. If there is anything that we can help, please give us a call at 425-818-0086. We also have a new website. Please check it out if you have time. Activespines.com